The Reform Jewish day school at 5600 N. Braeswood Blvd. was established by Congregation Beth Israel in 1982. Today, the school serves about 360 pupils from age 15 months through fifth grade.

The round room where the gym is located - Levit Hall - has been used for physical education classes for years, but it wasn't really designed for that purpose, Head of School Ricki Komiss said.

"While the space was great, it didn't have all of the attributes of a gym," Komiss said.

Now the room has new flooring, paint, retractable basketball goals, a scoreboard, a lighting system, wall pads, volleyball grommets and a curtain that divides the room into two spaces.

"Levit Hall is an attractive, modern, bright multiuse space that serves our High Holy Days worship needs, weekend meetings and program needs," said Rabbi David Lyon of Congregation Beth Israel.

Levit Hall was created during a campus expansion project that took place about 13 years ago, the result of a joint capital campaign by the school and the congregation.

The idea at that time was to connect the Kaufman Building, which houses the school, with Beth Israel's synagogue building and to create new spaces for education, worship and community.

"As a result, beautiful spaces were created including the largest Jewish library in the southwest with 20,000 volumes, a school digital arena, science lab and art room," Lyon said.

Levit Hall was created without a particular vision, Lyon said.

It has always been used for Rosh Hashanah teen services and for Yom Kippur alternative services. The room also has been used for weekend programs and most often for Shlenker pupils' physical education classes during the week.

"For many years, I've wondered what the vision for the room really ought to be," Lyon said. "About three years ago, I stood by the doors watching the children in gym class on a weekday. I said to myself, 'What we have here is a gym.' "

The room's renovation cost approximately $165,000.

Physical education is important for the students, Komiss said.

"Building muscle, making students proud of what they can do, learning sportsmanship - all of those things, if started when they're young, naturally carries over when they're older," Komiss said.

Lyon likes that the room also is a community space that can be used for gatherings, events and youth groups.